ELECTION UPDATE: Morecambe and Lancaster seats could be crucial to future government

David Morris at the election count at Salt Ayre Sports Centre in the early hours of Friday morning.

Published:01:48Friday 08 May 2015

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The eyes of the UK could be on Morecambe and Lancaster in a few hours’ time as the battle for Parliamentary seats goes down to the wire.

With experts now predicting the Conservatives could win a narrow overall majority, who wins the Morecambe and Lunesdale, and Lancaster and Fleetwood seats is taking on national importance.

Neither seat had declared by 6am and a declaration of results was expected between 8am and 10am.

Talk in the count room at Salt Ayre Sports Centre was that Cat Smith could win Lancaster and Fleetwood for Labour with the battle between David Morris (Conservative) and Amina Lone (Labour) too close to call in Morecambe and Lunesdale, although Mr Morris may be edging it.

Mr Morris said he was quietly confident of victory while Labour sources in the count room were mixed over Ms Lone’s chances of unseating him.

The Scottish National Party were having a great night after wiping out many Labour strongholds in Scotland, while it was turning into a bad night for the Lib Dems with cabinet members Vince Cable and Ed Davey losing their seats, as well as veteran MP Simon Hughes.

David Cameron, on retaining his Witney seat, said: “I want my party and I hope, a Government I’d like to lead, to reclaim the mantle of one nation, one United Kingdom.”

Ed Miliband, leader of the Labour party, on holding his Doncaster North seat, said: “This has been a very difficult and disappointing night for the Labour party.”

Nick Clegg, leader of the Liberal Democrats, said on holding his Sheffield Hallam seat: “This has been a cruel and punishing night for the Liberal Democrats.”